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Table 1 Summary of major PICOS characteristics of included studies

From: Associations between lifestyle interventions during pregnancy and childhood weight and growth: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Study and country

N randomized (analyzed at last included follow-up)

Last follow-up included in review

BMI class

Population characteristics

Gestational week at inclusion

Intervention duration

Intervention content

Chiavaroli et al. [56], 2018

New Zealand

98 (57)

7 y

All

Only nulliparous women aged 20–40, who were relatively sedentary included

<  20

Pregnancy

PA

Delta Healthy Sprouts [57]

USA

105 (46)

12 m

All

Large majority of women were of African-American race and unmarried, from region with high rates of OB, diabetes, hypertension

<  19

Pregnancy and postpartum

Mixed

ETIP [41, 64]

Norway

91 (70)

3 m

OW/OB (≥ 28 kg/m2)

Only previously sedentary women included

≤ 18

Pregnancy

PA

ETOIG [49]

France

275 (238)

2 y

OW/OB

Majority of women were found to be of high socioeconomic status and have high levels of education

≤ 21

Pregnancy and postpartum

Mixed

FeLIPO [40] cluster-RCT

Germany

250 (220)

10–12 m

All, except UW

Majority of women were normal weight, German-born

<  18

Pregnancy

Mixed

Fit for Delivery [58]

USA

401 (222)

6 m

All (19.8–40 kg/m2)

Only non-smokers included, most were non-Hispanic White

10–16

Pregnancy

Mixed

GeliS [43] cluster-RCT

Germany

2286 (1716)

10–12 m

All (18.5–40 kg/m2)

Women were predominantly White, relatively well educated, more nulliparous women in intervention group

<  12

Pregnancy and postpartum

Mixed

HAPPY [59]

United Kingdom

120 (78)

12 m

OW/OB

Women were mostly of South Asian origin, city characterized by high levels of socioeconomic deprivation and ethnic diversity

10–26

Pregnancy and postpartum

Mixed

Healthy Mom Zone [60, 65] USA

31 (19)

5–11 wks

OW/OB (25–45 kg/m2)

Most women were married, middle to upper class, Caucasian, from rural/ suburban areas

>  8

Pregnancy

Mixed

Healthy Moms [52]

USA

118 (103)

12 m

OB

Women were primarily White with at least a high school education. Over half were classified with class 2 or 3 obesity

≤ 20

Pregnancy

Mixed

Kong et al. [48], 2014

USA

42 (33)

6 m

OW/OB

Only non-exercising non-smokers included, cohort predominantly White, married, educated

<  15

Pregnancy

PA

LIMIT [46, 53, 54]

Australia

2212 (1418)

3–5 y

OW/OB

Women were predominantly White

10–20

Pregnancy

Mixed

LiPO [51]

Denmark

360 (157)

2.8 y

OB (30–45 kg/m2)

Women were exclusively Caucasian

10–14

Pregnancy

Mixed

NAMI [45]

Finland

171 (143)

6 m

All

Women were exclusively White, majority had high education levels and were primiparous

<  17

Pregnancy and postpartum

Diet

NELLI [61] cluster-RCT

Finland

442 (150)

7 y

All

Minimum 1 out of 4 risk factors required: BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, history of GDM/ macrosomic birth, age > 40 y, diabetes in family

8–12

Pregnancy

Mixed

RADIEL [42]

Finland

728 (320)

5 y

All

History of GDM or BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 were required, women were exclusively White, majority well educated, non-smokers, primiparous

<  20, or planning pregnancy

Pre-or early pregnancy and postpartum

Mixed

ROLO [47, 55]

Ireland

800 (280)

6 m

All

Only secundigravid women with macrosomic birth included, majority were White

≤ 18

Pregnancy

Diet

Stafne et al. [62], 2012 Norway

855 (258)

15 m

All

Only White women included, cohort generally exercised regularly, BMI mostly in normal range

18–22

Pregnancy

PA

UPBEAT [50]

United Kingdom

1555 (677)

6 m

OB

Sample characterized by high ethnic diversity and socioeconomic deprivation; women aged ≥16 y were included

15–18

Pregnancy

Mixed

VIGA [63]

Sweden

445 (185)

6 y

All (≤ 19 kg/m2)

Larger proportion of normal weight women compared to the country population

≤ 16

Pregnancy and postpartum

PA

  1. Abbreviations: BMI Body mass index, GDM Gestational diabetes mellitus, m Months, OB Obesity, OW Overweight, PA Physical activity, RCT Randomized controlled trial, UW Underweight, wks Weeks, y Years